Local youngsters will be able to travel on their favourite train for the first time on the evening before the festival.

Thomas the Tank Engine will pull favourite coaches Annie and Clarabel along the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway on June 5.

He'll get all steamed up with his friends like Duck, Diesel, Daisy and Bertie on the next two days during the railway's annual Thomas weekend.

A Little Light Music will be performed by Steeton Male Voice Choir in Keighley Parish Church.

The June 20 concert at 7.30pm will also feature the Cobbydale Singers and soprano singer Erica Parrish.

Tickets are available from any member or by phoning choir secretary Len Wilson on 01274 569870.

Mystical Fortunes is the title of an all-day event at Marley playing fields on June 21. Local people will be able to consult a fortune teller, palmist, card reader, holistic healer and experts on natural medicines, aromatherapy and kombucha tea.

Admission will be £5 for adults and £1 for children. Phone Gill Penny on 644833 for details.

The north-east British Schools Mountainbike Championships will again be held in Haworth during the festival.

Penistone Hill is the site for races in various age groups on June 7 from 1-4.30pm. Phone 633260.

Mozart's Requiem will be performed by an orchestra and soloists at Haworth Parish Church. Details of the 6.30pm performance on June 7 are available from Jill Greenwood on 642323.

Musical Soundbites Extravaganza is the title of the second festival production by Yorkshire OperaShop.

The singers will return to Victoria Hall on June 13 following their successful show last year.

They will perform musical scenes from operas including The Magic Flute, Madam Butterfly, La Traviata and Aida.

They will also present songs from musicals like Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Les Miserables and The Magic Flute and Madam Butterfly.

Tickets for the 7.30pm show are available from Keighley Information Centre in the town hall, or by phoning Kathryn Morris on 633588.

Local historian Ian Dewhirst will give two talks instead of his usual one during this year's festival fortnight. He will repeat his popular free talk about Keighley during the Second World War on June 15 at 2pm.

The presentation packed out the library lecture theatre when he gave it during the festival in 1995.

Mr Dewhirst, the former Keighley reference librarian, will also speak on the human side of the local textile industry.

The lecture at Cliffe Castle Museum is in conjunction with an exhibition by the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.

Admission to the June 14 talk at 2.30pm is £4. Application forms are available from the museum.

Jazz fans can have a picnic while enjoying music from the Yorkshire Post Jazz Band in the garden of East Riddlesden Hall on June 14.

Tickets for the 7pm concert cost £10 and can be booked by phoning 01765 609999.

Jim Pickles will host his second festival workshop on the subject of model railways.

Following on from last year's introduction, he will demonstrate how to make scenery from cheap and readily-available materials.

Admission is free to the 7pm workshop in Keighley Library lecture theatre. Phone Jim on 603379 for details.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.